Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.

Silverleaf Resorts offered at Javits expo 2 visacards worth $40 each, $100 gas rebate, free cruise with air travel and additional free stay at any of their choice locations, plus a scratchcard that offers additional award. I paid $20 as consideration for these offers (it's better than gratis) and headed out to the Berkshires. I read several postings before I attended the presentation, but since I also planned to travel last Holy weekend, my partner and I booked a nice hotel, and decided to have a good time after the 90-minute presentation. We knew it's going to be a half-day stretch!

After checking in at our hotel at Pittsfield at 3pm, we went to the Oak & Spruce- as a Marriott frequent user- I knew this is not the place for me! But I was curious about their other locations since I travel a lot. We waited for an hour, and I demanded from the frontdesk to see a sales associate. [continued below]....

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..... I told her I paid a $180-hotel room to listen to their presentation! The front desk offered to waive the meeting and just give us the promised gifts! It was tempting, however, I didn't travel that far for a few promised gifts that I am not sure if I can really use. Besides I have a few friends at NYC who owns timeshares and are happy about it. In 10 minutes, a sales associate showed up, and she ran a short questionnaire. She figured I will not be interested in their location, so we did not proceed to walk around. Instead, she showed me their premium "red" categories, no restriction on time, but there is no guarantee of getting the locations I want if I book in less than 2 months. It was a pleasant conversation, she called her Manager who was respectful, and gave me another offer. I declined both, and they did not harass me as the others have reported.

That was 2 hours of conversation, but it was also because we talked a lot- albeit pleasantly. The problem is, they called another guy who led us to the rewards/ gift giving. That was another hour and quarter of wait because there were only 2 associates writing the certificates. At this point we realize, the tactic is to discourage the people and have them walk out disgusted. When I finally met the person giving the certificates, she issued 2 visa cards amounting to $40 each- that turned out to be real! I used it at the Chocolate Springs cafe next day, and the other one at Lee Premium outlets. The gas rebate was more of a catch- it would rebate $10/ month with a gas receipt for 10 months! I logged in today and gas certificate stubs will be sent to me, let us see if that will be come through. Though I admit, the trip paid off because I got to visit the Natl Shrine of Divine Mercy on Easter Sunday :-)

I also received the certificates for the promised cruise, additional rooms for their other locations, and another 4-night rooms at Hawaii, Aruba or Pto Rico. I have no problem flying to these places, if I can really book these rooms. The bookings are through Spirit Incentives- so i checked out this company and I read a lot of complaints.

My question to readers is: Has anyone out there actually booked a cruise (3-night cruise plus airfare included to Miami or CA), and if so, how much did you have to shell out in total? The $100 reservation deposit is supposed to be refundable if I cancel within 30 days of purchase or receipt of certificate, whichever is later. Also, has anyone used any of the promised rooms booked Spirit Incentives? I am wary about paying the deposit right now, please advise your experience with refund and actually booking the rooms- specially at Hawaii- a hot destination!

Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.